The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-06
MR.. AND MRS. SPARROW.

I
with just the right kind of trees for birds to
build their nests in. Two little spsrrows
went flying over the land one sunny
spring day to see if they could find good
place to begin housekeeping. They
hunted far and near, but one tree was too
high, another was too low, and when Mr..
| Sparrow thought they had found the very
safest nook, Mrs. Sparrow saw great
cat under the tree. This made her little
heart beat 80 fast from fear that Mr..
Sparrow, like kind bird gave up. At
last they came to the big brown stone
house, where, just at the end Of the porch,
was an old apple tree.
"Chee, chez, chez,
The very place for me-"
said Mrs. Sparrow.
''Chee, chip, chit,
Stay here little Bit"
Said Mr.. Sparrow.
So Mrs. Sparrow sat down on branch
of pink apple blossoms to rest, while Mr..
| Sparrow went to take look at things
He found there was good garden,
where he could get nice fat worms, and
he saw girl come out of the house and
shake lot of crumbs from cloth. Then
there was the river where they could get
cool, fresh water.
Obi it was lovely placel and back he
flew, much pleased, to talk it over with
his wife. While he was gone, Mrs. Spar
row saw something that gave her such q
fright that she nearly fell off the tree.
A small boy came out on the porch,
and in his hands he held a gun. Mrs.
| Sparrow thought her last hour had come;
but the small boy only whistled and shot
| little sticks at a wooden soldier on the
| floor.
Mrs. Sparrow was sure she never could
live in the same place with a dreadful
boy, and, while she was thinking how
hard it was to leave the pretty tree, an
other boy came out with big black crow
in his hands. Mrs. Sparrow thought he
would shoot it, and she shut her eyes
that she might not see the poor crow die.
But instead of the sound of the gun,
she heard the boy say softly, "Poor old
fellow how did you hurt your leg? I
guess it is broken, and shall have to set
| it."
Then Mrs. Sparrow opened her eyes
and saw the boy tie the crows leg up,
and give him some bread and milk.
When Mr.. Sparrow came back she told
him all about it.
Said Mr.. Sparrow:
1000, coo, COO.
What kind thing to dor
Then they knew that those boys never
would hurt them, so they began to get
grasses and little sticks and bits Of thread
to build nest. When the nest was all
snug and warm, Mrs, Sparrow crept into
it and laid five little eggs such pretty
little egge, with tiny brown spots like
stRrsi
Mr.. Sparrow was so proud OF his wife
that he sat ON branch over the nest and
sang all day long to her while she kept
the eggs warm. But when, after while,
there were five wee brides in the nest
cuddled down under the mothers wings,
he was the happiest bird in the world.
Such hungry bits of birds never were
seen. Mr.. and Mrs. Sparrow spent all
their time feeding them, and still they
were always hungry.
Now, what do you think happened one
day? Mrs. Sparrow was tired and cross;
so she sat on the edge of the nest and
scolded poor Mr.. Sparrow:
''Cheat, cheat, cheat,
You don't get the babies
Enough to eat.'
So Mr.. Sparrow flew off as fast as he
could, and came back with a big, fat
worm, which he dropped into the open
mouth of his Oldest SOP.
'Chee chez, chez,
| Get some for me-"
said Mrs. Sparrow, Grossly. Away went
Mr.. Sparrow again and found dainty
bit for his wife.
Still she stewed and scolded, till he
could bear it no longer.
He perched on the tree and would not
stir or say one word.
Mrs. Sparrow began to fly back and
forth over his head, scolding at the top of
her snrill little voice, and each time fly
ing lower and lower till she could brush
poor Mr.. Sparrow with her wings.
Once she gave him such hard knock
that he almost fell over.
The next time she few down he caught
her by one toe in his bill and held her
fast.
Mrs. Sparrow stopped scolding, and
hung down all limp and still.
The little brides were very much
frightened, and began to cry loudly.
"wee, wee. vice.
just see, Just seei"
they sobbed, while they peered wildly
over the nest.
"Oh, mammal oh, mammal cried the
small boy, running into the house. "Do
come and make these little sparrows in
the apple-tree stop quarreling."
"Caw. cav. cav"
laughed the big, black crow.
The small boys mamma came out on
the porch, and, looking up into the tree,
olannad her handa and said.